Because of the increased emphasis on the passing game, pass rushers continue to become more important as teams make plans for the NFL Draft. If a defense can’t pressure the quarterback, it has little chance of stopping today’s sophisticated passing offenses—and that’s why pass rushers from an inside alignment are at a premium.

Lotulelei is 6-4, 320 pounds and has a thick frame, especially in the lower body. Combined with his consistent play and ability to get a good fit on blockers, he makes it look easy anchoring against one-on-one and double-team run blocks.

Shutting down the inside run is easy for Lotulelei because of his two-gap ability. Unlike many two-gap defensive tackles, Lotulelei has the athleticism to stack and shed blocks to make plays against the run and to pressure quarterbacks. Projected: First round.

After playing one year in high school, Williams enrolled in junior college where he became a star and ended up transferring to North Carolina before the 2011 season. Williams is 6-3, 320 pounds and displays better than expected instincts to sniff out the play.

Combined with his ability to defeat blocks and close on plays, Williams has all the tools to be a high-end starter. Projected: First round.

Despite playing one year at Georgia entering the 2012 season, Jenkins is a top prospect. He is massive at 6-3, 358 pounds with the strength to dominate at the point of attack. While he never will be chasing down ball carriers along the sideline, he is much quicker and more athletic than you expect. Projected: Second round.

Short has a ton of major college experience having started 37 games entering the 2012 season. He is 6-3, 315 pounds and often the first defensive lineman moving at the snap, showing good instincts. Quick hands and good technique help Short defeat blocks to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Projected: Second round.

Hankins, who is 6-3, 317 pounds, is a tremendous talent who produces like a top-10 pick when he plays with leverage and aggressiveness. His issue is consistency. Unlike most powerful defensive tackles, Hankins makes it look easy bending his knees to play with leverage. Projected: Second round.

Williams hails from Australia and didn't begin playing football until he was 14. Now (6-4, 320 pounds, he had an excellent first season at Alabama in 2011, displaying excellent hand use and strength to be a true force. He fits in the NFL as a defensive tackle in a two-gap 4-3 scheme. Projected: Third round.

A true fourth-year senior, Boyd at 6-3, 300 pounds has improved each season and is one of the most disruptive interior tackles in the country. While he lacks the great bulk that is common for tackles in recent seasons, Boyd has and explosive initial burst, agility and foot quickness. Projected: Third round.

Overlooked as a key playmaker on the Seminoles defense, Dawkins gets gap penetration to blow up plays behind the line. He is 6-3, 304 pounds and shows good snap anticipation and quickness to get on top of blockers before they are set. Projected: Fourth round.

9. Montori Hughes, senior, Tennessee-Martin

Hughes at 6-4, 330 pounds has the size, strength, quickness and athleticism to be at the top of this list. Questions about maturity and work ethic led to him being dismissed from Tennessee and transferring to Tennessee-Martin. He could zoom up draft boards or could fall way down if he doesn’t play with passion and intensity. Projected: Fourth round.

10. Brent Russell, senior, Georgia Southern

While NFL teams favor prospects from big schools, Russell has been so dominant at Georgia Southern that he has the NFL’s attention. He is an athletic lineman who at 6-2, 300 pounds plays with great passion and intensity on every snap. Projected: Fourth round.